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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel our police officers should be in better shape?

117 replies

waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 11:01

Seriously, I was watching one of those UK Police style programmes and it's like you'll have a criminal jump out of a car and vault over garden walls, and you've just got these 5'5'' overweight police officers trotting along after them, heaving and panting, calling for back-up. It's not just a TV thing either, I can't remember the last time I saw tall, really fit looking police officers knocking about.

Does the police force not have any standards or what?

OP posts:
Original poster
waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 12:31

Sorry, but the Police themselves say on their website: ''You will need strength, agility and stamina to deal effectively with situations as well as to defend yourself and others. You also need to be fit to handle police equipment safely and to work shifts.''

So are you now saying the Police themselves are clueless about what's required?

OP posts:
TheChimpParadox · 18/08/2013 12:31

Ever seen a criminal being chased my a police dog - now that is fun Smile

sagfold · 18/08/2013 12:32

So, same old same old really. Op makes a slightly inflammatory, ill informed and potentially offensive remark. She is told by almost all respondents that she is being U. OP refuses to accept she is being U. Repeat. Yawn.

HeySoulSister · 18/08/2013 12:35

Seems that way sagfold

Original poster
waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 12:41

Why would it be offensive?

OP posts:
HeySoulSister · 18/08/2013 12:44

Op, what do you think should happen to all these unfit officers then? Weekly tests and the sack if they have an off week?

Nicknacky · 18/08/2013 12:50

I'm obviously not the op, but no one is talking about an off week. If you have an officer who is badly unfit and unable to maintain operational frontline duties there are other roles available, and support to improve.

Many forces are talking about bringing in contracts every five years or so, so it may be something that can have an impact on the persons career. Also talk about yearly fitness tests for new recruits

I know police officers who can't run the length of themselves and are now desk bound.

Tiredmumno1 · 18/08/2013 12:51

Do PCSOs have to do the test? Or are they not allowed to chase and apprehend?

SilverApples · 18/08/2013 12:55

Can't we have all those spare army types joining the police force instead of heading towards teaching? Sounds like a much closer skill set, and they can run and jump and roll over already.

OhDearNigel · 18/08/2013 12:58

My force introduced annual fitness tests this year. The first one has yet to be done, no doubt many will fail

However i would like to point out that police officers work in many roles, not just response. There isnt the same need for the force probationer training team to be as fit as the public order teams or the underwater search unit. In my experience officers in front line uniform roles tend to be pretty fit.

Nicknacky · 18/08/2013 13:01

Interesting Nigel, what happens if an officer fails?

Original poster
waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 13:04

''Op, what do you think should happen to all these unfit officers then? Weekly tests and the sack if they have an off week?''

No, I would have basic fitness tests every 6 months and if they are unfit they are taken off front line.

OP posts:
HeySoulSister · 18/08/2013 13:06

more taken off frontline? and replaced with.....??

Plomino · 18/08/2013 13:15

And what do you do with the older officers ? Now we're being expected to work until we're 60. Because back office work is becoming a thing of the past. And 30 years of shift work takes it toll.

thing1and2 · 18/08/2013 13:17

Regular here but nc due to RL abuse as a result of my profession and I do not want this linked to previous posts.

I have 11 years service in 2 forces. I don't know which force you refer to OP, we have 43 in the uk, not just one. In both forces I have served in and in many others I know of, annual fitness tests have been undertaken for my whole service. I am sick to the back teeth of DM readers, the ill informed et al spouting shite about no annual testing and the general lack of standards in fitness.

You are basing your opinion on very limited information, don't forget there are about 137000 of us out there, for the most part doing our utmost to do a good job, please everyone, be all things to all people, lock up the bad guys and get home in one piece to be with our family.

I am over 40, non uniformed, so generally I don't have to chase people, but have never failed a fitness test. Not being the fastest runner has never hindered me getting convictions for serious offences and putting some really nasty creatures behind bars.

I would choose to be crewed with a tactful, open minded, empathetic colleague who scraped through the bleep test over a smart mouthed, judgmental gob on a stick whose only skill was putting one leg in front of the other quickly, any day.

Good job I don't judge my gp for smoking a pipe or MW for being obese, isn't it?

Nicknacky · 18/08/2013 13:18

We are the opposite, palomino, so many civilians going that some posts being back filled by cops. Can't see the financial sense!!

Original poster
waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 13:21

................and replace them with young unemployed people desperate for work?

I'm not talking about older officers here, who actually generally seem in better shape than the ones I AM talking about: the ones in their thirties who are very clearly overweight, and it has nothing to do with the weight of equipment or stamina, or whatever. They are simply young and overweight.

OP posts:
Original poster
waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 13:23

'' I don't judge my gp for smoking a pipe or MW for being obese''

Ridiculous comparison. Your GP smoking has zero effect on how he treats you, same goes for the midwife. An overweight copper lets a criminal run free.

OP posts:
thing1and2 · 18/08/2013 13:25

OP there barely IS a front line to start with. Honestly, if the general public knew how poorly resourced we are in my force area there would be bloody uproar.

Winsor has already stated his intention to bring in reduced pay for officers unable to pass the fitness test after 3 attempts. Hardly fair if the reason is work related injury or similar? Also, we could have a situation where 60 yr old women officers are completing the same test as 19 yr old new recruits!

thing1and2 · 18/08/2013 13:27

OP you have no idea about the realities of policing. I'll leave you to it love....

Tapirbackrider · 18/08/2013 13:28

Thing

It doesn't matter what you say to the OP, they have made their mind up about this, and have no intention of listening to anything we have to say.

Nicknacky · 18/08/2013 13:31

Thing, no she doesn't know the realities of policing. Why would she, she isn't a police officer but is putting her valid opinion across which has been challenged/explained by several of us

I still don't see why people are taking offence at the thought of having fit police officers. Yes, an ideal officer will be a combination of attributes, it doesn't have to be a fitness freak with no common sense or someone with good communication skills and no fitness! Most officers have a bit of both

pigletmania · 18/08/2013 13:31

Yanbu at all, the police like any of the emergency services have to have a certain level of fitness, it's part of the job. Not unreasonable to expect that!

Tapirbackrider · 18/08/2013 13:33

Nicknacky Most posters are taking offence at the uninformed drivel that the OP is using as her opinion, rather than the 'thought of having fit police officers'.

HeySoulSister · 18/08/2013 13:34

so train up new officers...once old ones fail a fitness test?? do you know how long it takes to do training op?

where is the money for all these fitness tests and new officers coming from then?